Upcoming Events

Friday, 22 February

District Swimming Carnival

Thursday, 28 February

Year 6 Peer Support overnight camp on the

school oval

Friday, 1 March

Year 6 Clean Up Addison Street

Shellharbour Public School Newsletter - Term 1, Week 4

Website: www.shellharb-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Phone: Phone: 4295 1334 Email: shellharb-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Fax: 4297 2399

NAPLAN ONLINE

In advance of our Year 3 and Year 5 students taking NAPLAN online in 2109, students,

teachers and parents are invited to use the demonstration site to familiarise

themselves with the type of questions, and related functionalities available in the

NAPLAN Online Assessment. Some of the key features of NAPLAN Online include

interactive navigation, timers and drag-and-drop functionality. Students are

encouraged to try all the tests for their year level to experience the complete range of

question formats and interactive features available in the online NAPLAN assessment.

While it is helpful for students to become familiar and comfortable with the format of

the online test, ACARA does not encourage students to study separately for NAPLAN

and answers to the demonstration tests are not provided. The demonstration tests only

cover a sample of possible questions and do not reflect the range of curriculum content

or skills NAPLAN Online will assess.

https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site

FENCE UPDATE

Just waiting for the delivery of various motors to drive the gates and the installation of

monitoring devices, and our security fence will be complete. Contrary to popular

opinion, our fence isn’t designed to keep the teachers ‘in’, but rather keep unwanted

people ‘out’, particularly after hours. More information when the fence is complete!

YEAR 6 CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA….OK, JUST ADDISON STREET AND LITTLE PARK

On Friday, 1 March our Year 6, their class teachers and I are looking forward to

cleaning up Addison Street and Little Park as our contribution to the ‘Clean Up

Australia Day’ campaign. We will be splitting into two groups and leaving the school

at 1.00 pm to clean up both sides of Addison Street before coming together at Little

Park for further cleaning and finally, a well-deserved ice cream and a drink. You don’t

have to travel too far to realise how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful location. The message that we all have

a role in keeping it that way is an important one to share. If you are a parent/carer of a Year 6 child and you

would like to join us, please make this known on the permission note that has already been sent home.

As in previous years, we have been generously supported by Jacqui Mantuano, Activities Organiser at Bunnings

Shellharbour, through the provision of gloves and ‘paper picker-uppers’.

VOLUNTARY SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS

Notes detailing each child’s workbook package and voluntary contribution have been sent home recently.

Students have already started to use these materials and your co-operation in paying these fees as soon as

possible is appreciated. Our voluntary contributions are always itemised and set below the amount

recommended by the Department of Education and Communities. Since 2012, we have not asked parents to buy

student textbooks in Mathematics, or any other subject. Teachers here create their own (and better) resources.

To send your child to a private primary school in this area will cost between $1800.00 and $7000.00 per year.

Our fee of $40.00 per child or $35.00 per child (three or more children in family) makes a year at this school the

best bargain you will ever get. I wish housing around here was such good value!

There is only one speed at this school, and that is ‘flat out’ till the 20 December! I can’t believe the extra

experiences that the staff is already planning for your children! It’s only Week 4, and already dates have been set

this term for our students to be involved in school camps, celebration days, coastal walks, and two sporting

carnivals. Just a privilege to be a part of this group of teachers!

OUR SCHOOL UNIFORM

It wasn’t until I sent my own children to this school that I fully appreciated the value of a school uniform. A school

uniform is affordable, practical and predictable. On excursions or out of school activities, a school uniform also

becomes another way of ensuring student surveillance and therefore safety. All students in NSW Government

schools are expected to adhere to the requirements of the school’s uniform or dress code policy. Adherence to

the school’s uniform code is also a Core Rule of the NSW Department of Education. Our students (and therefore

their parents) have always been great supporters of their school uniform. Our new sports shirt is proving to be

very popular. This was an initiative of the P & C in 2013. These shirts are intended for sports days only and

should not be worn on a normal school day.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

School attendance is important. At the end of this newsletter are two information sheets provided by the

Department. One of the points made on these sheets is the startling fact that just 8 missed days per term results

in the loss of an entire year over the course of primary school. The sheets also point out your rights and

responsibilities around school attendance and support available if you are having trouble getting your child to

school.

APPROACHING THE SCHOOL

I never heard my parents criticise a teacher. I do remember the time when Miss Fisher who was my fourth grade

teacher at East Hills Public School took me from her 4A class and put me in 4B. As both her children had always

been ‘A’ students, my enraged mother flew up to the school to inquire why this had occurred. Miss Fisher’s

answer was honest, short, but succinct;

“Frankly Mrs MacDonald, I just can’t stand him ….”

Mum seemed to understand what she meant and I enjoyed making lots of new friends in 4B! In this newsletter

you will find procedures for approaching the school. Please make contact with the appropriate staff member if

you have a question or a concern. I can assure you, you won’t get a response like the one Miss Fisher provided!

DRIVING AND PARKING NEAR THE SCHOOL

The beginning and end of the school day are busy

times for pedestrians and drivers outside schools.

You can help keep children safe by remembering the

following:

• drop your child off and pick them up on the school

side of the road

• never call out to them from across the road - it is very dangerous

• always take extra care in 40km school zones

• follow all parking signs - these help keep your child as safe as possible

• park responsibly even if it means you have to walk further to the school gate

• never double park - it is illegal and puts children at risk

• never do a U-turn or a three point turn outside the school as it puts children at risk of harm

• model safe and considerate pedestrian and driver behaviours to your child

• always give way to pedestrians particularly when entering and leaving driveways

Be aware that new penalties apply for indiscretions around schools.

John MacDonald Principal

LIBRARY NEWS

The library is in full swing and I couldn’t be happier to share this wonderful space with your children for 2019!

My name is Sarah Pike and I will be relieving as Teacher Librarian at SPS for this year while Mrs Harrison explores

a new role at Warilla High School.

I have been exploring the library collection and quizzing your kids on what they like to read and engage with in

the library space. I have been watching them at play time and taking note of their favourite activities and popular

books and I’m excitedly acquiring new items to keep them enthusiastic. The library is proving to be quite a

popular spot for children of all ages with not a single spare chair, table or rug space available every day! I’m so

pleased your children are enjoying the space.

Opening hours - The library will be open from 8.30-8.55 am Monday to Thursday for return of books only. The

library will now be open for play time, games and craft activities at lunch and recess every day. Recess on

Thursdays will be reserved for Kindergarten only to encourage them to explore the library without so much

competition. At recess on Fridays, I host a Fun Friday Dance Party in the library where your children bust a move

to their favourite clips on Just Dance #notaquietlibrary.

Library bags - For children in Kinder to Year 2, it is essential that they bring their library bags with them on their

allocated library days. Library bags keep our books safe and clean to and from the library and school.

Unfortunately students without library bags will be unable to borrow. There is no need to go and buy a special

library bag, a reusable shopping bag works perfectly to protect our books. If you are unsure when your child has

their library day, please get in touch with their classroom teacher or myself and we can let you know.

Library monitors - Last week I put out a call for Year 5 and 6 students to volunteer to become library monitors.

I was not at all prepared for the flood of students offering to help. Over 50 students signed up in a week! What an

amazing student body we have where so many of our kids are willing to help. Thank you to all those lovely

volunteers.

Instagram - To keep the school community up to date on the latest happenings in the SPS library, I have created

a dedicated library Instagram page. Here you can see new books and activities, find out what events are coming

up and I will showcase some of the activities our students are working on. Images that can identify your children

will not be uploaded to this page, but students will be involved in assisting me generate content-staging photos,

taking photos, writing captions, etc. Follow our library adventures @shellharbour_ps_library

My goal this year is to get all SPS kids reading as much as possible; books, magazines, comics, fiction, non-

fiction, jokes, even books about Minecraft! I don’t mind, as long as they are reading and enjoying it. The more

they read, the better they get at it, the better they get at it, the more doors that will open for them. If you have

suggestions on how to improve the library facilities or suggestions for additions to our collection, please pop in

and say hello or get in touch - Happy reading! Sarah Pike, Librarian

WOLLONGONG HIGH SCHOOL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

The audition application for entry into Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts (Year 7 2020) is now

available online only on the WHSPA website. Auditions will be held from Monday, 25 March to Friday, 12 April,

the last three (3) weeks of Term 1.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL RESULTS

A Shellharbour Public School Swimming Carnival is the perfect way to start our

school year and this year’s carnival was nothing short of fantastic. The competition

in all age groups was tough and it was wonderful to see so many of our 8 and 9 year

olds display the effort required to swim in every event. Special congratulations goes

to our Age Champions who will be announced at assemblies over the next two

weeks. The success of the day and the ease with which it ran was made possible due to the help of many

parents/carers. A personal thank you to each and every one of you who assisted on the day. Your support is

greatly appreciated and your contribution ensured that our carnival was a success and the timekeeping end of

the pool a fun place to be. Thanks to Tina Barrett for her organisation as well.

DONATION OF TOYS FOR SANDPIT

If anyone would like to donate any second hand toys such as trucks, diggers or sandpit related toys, it would be

greatly appreciated - please just drop into the school office at any time – thank you

Shellharbour Public School

Guidelines for Approaching the School

We take great pride in being a welcoming, inclusive school where parents are viewed as genuine partners in the education of their child. From time to time, parents may need to approach the school in order to discuss the progress of their child, express concerns about the actions of other students or enquire about school policy or practice. It is therefore necessary to have procedures that will ensure concerns are dealt with in an open and fair manner, ensure the rights of students, teachers and parents are respected and upheld, support sensitivity and confidentiality and assist in reaching an agreed solution. These results are gained from working together. With this being the case, the following table may assist you when approaching the school.

Concern Appropriate Action

The academic progress of own child

Directly contact the child’s teacher either by note, phone or in person and arrange a suitable time to

discuss issues

The welfare of own child

For minor issues contact your child’s teacher. For more serious concerns, contact office, state nature of concern and arrange a suitable time to talk with appropriate staff member, typically the Principal,

or Counselor. To convey information about change of address, etc, please contact office

Actions of other students

Contact class teacher for classroom issues.

Contact Principal regarding playground issues. AT NO TIME SHOULD A PARENT APPROACH

A CHILD OTHER THAN THEIR OWN

School policy or practice

Contact office.

State nature of concern and make an appointment to see the Principal and/or appropriate staff

member.

Shellharbour Public School

Phone 42951334

Finger bun with cream or icing

• Wholemeal crumpet or English muffin topped with 100% fruit jam and smooth ricotta cheese

• Raisin toast with a little margarine Chocolate bar • MILO with reduced-fat milk

Ice cream • Reduced-fat fruit yoghurt (200g tubs or squeezy

tubes) - freeze for an ice cream experience Creamy dip with Jatz crackers

• Hummus or tzatziki dip with vegetable batons (eg carrot, celery, capsicum) and wholemeal crackers

Garlic bread • Corn cobs - put dinner leftovers in the fridge for a tasty after-school snack. Serve warm with garlic infused margarine

Party pies/sausage rolls

• Baked bean jaffles • Wholemeal pizza subs (wholemeal English

muffins topped with tomato sauce & reduced-fat cheese, grilled)

Fruit juice • Fresh fruit salad (which contains fibre missing in fruit juice) and a jug of chilled water

Packet of ‘mini’ biscuits

• Home-made ‘trail pack’ with sultanas, mixed nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds and popcorn

Cheese flavoured chips/corn chips

• Cheese on brown rice crackers or Lebanese bread triangles (made crispy in the oven)

Ice cream and jelly • Reduced-fat vanilla custard with canned peaches/apricots/pears (in natural juice)

By Vanessa Schuldt, Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)

Instagram: nutritionspeak

Please support our neighbours in Shellharbour Village…..